Can Flomax Be Used by Women?

Flomax treats urinary problems in men

Women can't use Flomax because it is a treatment for an enlarged prostate. Other drugs, in combination with bladder training and pelvic floor exercises, can help women with incontinence.

Effects

Flomax treats the inability to completely empty the bladder (urinary retention) caused by an enlarged prostate. Flomax reduces the symptoms of frequent urination and the sudden need to urinate.

Mechanism

Flomax is an alpha blocker, and works by blocking alpha-1 receptors to help relax the muscles of the prostrate.

Considerations

Urinary incontinence is more common in women than men, and becomes more common and severe as women age. The appropriate treatment depends on a woman's symptoms and type of incontinence.

Types

Estrogen levels decline as women age, leading to urge incontinence (leakage after a sudden and irresistible need to urinate) as the urethra grows thin and irritable. Stress incontinence is urine leakage from a sudden increase in pressure on the bladder.

Treatments

Bladder training, exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and drugs can help women with incontinence. Imipramine or duloxetine treat stress incontinence; oxybutynin and tolterodine are useful for urge incontinence. Topical estrogen can reduce urinary complications caused by thinning of the urethra.

References

• Merck Manual On-Line: Urinary Incontinence
• Rx List: Flomax